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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Sad to say we have continued down the path of insanity — “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

The result was the death of a beautiful bear.

A couple weeks ago, we all joined in sincere discussion, some of it heated and misinformed, but all well-intended. Matchless Court/Saddlehorn residents in Incline Village and IVGID were convicted of lax trash handling, despite no evidence of such. Names and phone numbers were published (in press releases and on Facebook) resulting in threats. A warden doing his job, and NDOW was accused of blood lust. Thankfully, that critter was relocated by NDOW with aversion training.

We all passed assessments on our computer walls. I wrote a column. Then we all did the wrong thing — we took absolutely no action. We didn’t have to wait long for our folly to take its toll.

March 7, trash day of course, all hell broke loose again. The relocated sibling’s brother was right back at it in the Matchless/Saddlehorn area. He took up residence in the human hoods instead of his wild woods with activity putting him at risk. The altar upon which to heap our shame, the infamous bear trap was back in place with its pilgrimage of Pine-Sol toting bear saviors.

The Blame Game again reached a fevered frenzy. It felt like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day.” Misinformation was again recklessly bandied about. The call was made to hunt down the name of the person who called for help. This name was then posted for public criticism and admonishment. Condemnation was falsely levied on residents for trash being carelessly available. IVGID was denounced for lax regulation enforcement. Vilification of the evil empire NDOW, its warden and biologist was swift. Raw nerves of polarized neighbors were again exposed. The whole sad circus was back, and another bear was at risk. Nothing was fixed!

Alongside this lack of corrective action, dissemination of false information continued. Some quotes during this event, from Facebook:

• They need to kill the people who don’t take care of their garbage that draws the bears!

• When humans act responsibly, bears rarely present a problem. So WHY do some humans feel the need to set baited traps so they can “claim” this bear is a “problem bear”?

• Let Ken Mayer, director of NDOW, know how you feel about them capturing and executing a bear for the crime of sleeping in a culvert!

• Where are the bears supposed to go if they can’t sleep in the woods up there??

• now the bear is dead and we can thank the guys on matchless court for no bear box. Come on’ incline where is your enforcement?!!!!!

• Thank you for causing all these problems. Now the bear is dead. Can live with this? And it was a different bear. It was just there.

• and ya wonder why the bears are hanging around..!! Dummies do not have a bear proof dumpster....HELLO Incline!!!